David Jimenez vs Ayumu Sano

If I were feeling braver, I would pick Sano on a points decision due to what went on when he challenged long-reigning WBA flyweight champion Artem Dalakian in January 2024. After a deadly, boring but clear Dalakian win, all 3 judges scored in favour of Sano: Raul Caiz Sr 112-116, Jeremy Hayes 109-119, and Luis Pabon 111-117. That’s not to deride Sano’s obvious abilities, but it was a dreadful decision that ended the 6-year reign of a dominant champion. Now, at super-flyweight, the Japanese fighter finds himself in pretty much the same position again, the underdog against a fighter at the top of his game on a 6-fight win streak. The only loss on Jimenez’s resume came, you guessed it, when he challenged Dalakian for his WBA world 112 lb title in January 2023 at, of all places, Wembley Arena, London, England, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde. Dalakian had to work hard for a close, unanimous decision victory. Sano will have advantages in height and reach and is considered a puncher even though Jimenez holds a 67% Ko percentage as opposed to Sano’s 46%. We have to believe that the judging will be fair, and if so, then I believe Jimenez will retain his title by a close decision.